1Winter Shrub Identification Workshop

Fox Forest, Hillsborough, NH January 23 & 24th 2003

Helpful Characteristics for Identifying Shrubs (and a few trees) in Winter

alternate-leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) – Cornaceae Other names: pagoda dogwood Habit: shrub or sometimes small tree (up to 20’ tall)

Twigs: alternate, greenish to dark purple, pith white, buds 2-scaled Bark: younger growth often reddish, most specimens have

yellow-orange dead woodHabitat: upland woods: UPL

American beech (Fagus grandifolia) – Fagaceae Habit: large tree with broad crown (50-75’) Twigs: zigzag, slender; buds long, very sharp pointed, buds scales tan

and papery Fruit: soft, prickly burr enclosing 2-3 triangular nuts Bark: smooth, blue-gray

Habitat: dry, upland sites: FACU

American elm (Ulmus americana) - Ulmaceae Other names: white elm Habit: rarely grows larger than small sapling (±30’tall)

Twigs: alternate, brown, slightly hairy especially near terminal bud; buds brown, pseudoterminal bud at 45o angle to the stem.

Bark: grayish-brown, diamond-shaped furrows, alternate layers of dark and lighter colored cork in cross section of bark ridges

Habitat: mostly bottomlands: FACW-

beaked hazel-nut (Corylus cornuta) - Betulaceae Habit: low shrub Twigs: alternate, tips slightly hairy (with hand lens); buds round, 2 pairs of

bud scales – pair covering lower 1/3 of bud are dark, pair covering upper portion of bud are light-colored and often fuzzy (2-toned buds).

Habitat: forest edges and thickets: FACU- Similar species:

American hazel-nut (C. americana): twig tips have erect, gland-tipped hairs; buds have 4 uniformly reddish scales. encountered infrequently.

2bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) – Celastraceae

C. orbiculatus

Habit: Vigorous twining vine or vine-like shrub Twigs: brown to tan, lenticels barely noticeable, bark not peeling; buds

rounded, small, brownish; pith solid, white Fruits: Bright orange-red, borne on axillary cymes (clusters originating

near lateral buds) Habitat: open woods and thickets: UPL

Similar species: American bittersweet (C. scandens): fruits borne on terminal clusters,

less common black ash (Fraxinus nigra) - Oleaceae Habit: tree Twigs: first pair of lateral buds usually set back from terminal bud, bud scar not deeply notched at top; buds dark. Bark: grayish, irregularly scaly or corky, may be powdered by rubbing Habitat: wet sites: FACW Similar species: see white ash black birch (Betula lenta) – Betulaceae Other names: sweet birch, cherry birch

Habit: tree (up to 75’ tall) Twigs: alternate, slender, reddish-brown, twig tips hairless,

strong wintergreen scent; buds two-toned. Bark: reddish-brown to black Habitat: drier woodlands: FACU Similar species: yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis): twig tips hairy, subtle wintergreen scent black cherry (Prunus serotina) - Rosaceae Habit: tree ( up to 60’ tall) Twigs: alternate, strong cherry odor, slender; buds not clustered at

twig tips; bud scales pointed, reddish-brown and greenish yellow.

Bark: young stems: smooth, horizontal lenticels. Older trees: small plated scales, cracking irregularly

Habitat: woods and thickets: FACU black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) – Rosaceae Habit: arching shrub Canes: reddish-brown, round; thorns small and recurved,

glaucous (whitish powder) Habitat: early successional, upland sites: UPL Similar species: red raspberry (R. idaeus): thorns are bristly

3blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) - Rosaceae Habit: upright or arching shrub Canes: stout, lower portion angled(not round in cross section);

thorns large and recurved, Habitat: early successional, upland sites: FACU choke cherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana) – Rosaceae Habit: shrub or small tree Twigs: alternate, cherry scent, upper stems stout; buds large

and pointed, may be crowded toward twig tip – but not clustered around terminal bud, bud scales rounded.

Bark: gray-brown and smooth Habitat: young woods and thickets: FACU Similar species: black cherry (P. serotina): buds smaller and have pointed scales common spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – Lauraceae Habit: erect shrub Twigs: alternate, spicy-scented; buds round, usually clustered; leaf buds

2- to 3-scaled. End buds pseudoterminal. Habitat: wooded bottomlands: FACW- eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) – Pinaceae Habit: tree, (up to 80’) Leaves: flat needles and sprays, slender stalks; whitened beneath, 2 lines Twigs: rough when leaves removed Cones: small (5/8 to 1”), rounded, pendant, few scales Bark: dark and rough, ridged and scaly; bright purple inner bark Habitat: cool, moist sites eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) - Pinaceae Habit: tree (up to 90’+) Leaves: needles in bundles of 5, soft, flexible, bluish-green, 2-4” long Cones: long –not round, 3” to 10” long, thornless Bark: not scaly as in other pines; young trees – smooth, green; older trees – dark with deep furrows Habitat: uplands: FACU

4grape (Vitis spp.) - Vitaceae Habit: climbing or trailing vine Twigs: brown to green, hairy or not hairy, shreddy brown bark that shreds

parallel to the stem; pith brown, discontinuous Habitat: wetland edges, field edges and hedgerows, abandoned fields.

Notes: Four species in NH: silverleaf grape (V. aestivalis var. argentifolia), fox grape (V. labrusca), New England grape (V. novae-angliae), river grape (V. riparia).

gray birch (Betula populifolia) – Betulaceae Habit: small tree (less than 30’ tall) Twigs: alternate, slender, hairless, twig tips have obvious warty,

whitish dots; buds two-toned (green and brown). Bark: dark brown in young trees; older trees grayish white,

not peeling, triangular black patches on trunk below branches Habitat: early-successional, typically well drained sites, wetland edges,

abandoned gravel pits: FAC Similar species:

paper birch (B. papyrifera): present year’s growth somewhat hairy

hobble-bush (Viburnum alnifolium) - Caprifoliaceae Habit: straggling shrub, often forming dense thickets

Twigs: opposite, fine hairy; buds naked and hairy, yellow- orange in color

Habitat: cool moist woods and shores of ponds and streams: FAC

honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) – Caprifoliaceae Habit: climbing vines or erect shrubs, most in NH are erect shrubs.

Twigs: opposite, grayish-whitish, often shiny, papery; have scales at the bases of twigs; opposing leaf scars are connected by lines. Erect

L. tatarica

shrubs with hollow pith are of Eurasian origin. Erect shrubs with solid pith are native in origin.

tartarian honeysuckle (L. tatarica) Habit: erect shrub Twigs: hollow pith; buds small and bluntHabitat: forest edges and thickets: FACU Similar species: 3 additional shrub honeysuckles have hollow pith:

European fly-honeysuckle (L. xylosteum): buds long and sharp morrow honeysuckle (L. morrowi): buds short and conical pretty honeysuckle (L. × bella): hybrid having

L. canadensis

characteristics between tartarian and morrow honeysuckles

Canada honeysuckle (L. canadensis) Other names: fly-honeysuckle Habit: erect shrub Twigs: solid white pith; long greenish-purplish buds; twigs two-

lined; lower bud scales shorter than budsHabitat: woods: FACU

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O. virginiana

hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) – Betulaceae Other names: ironwood

Habit: small tree (typically less than 30’ tall) Twigs: alternate, buds two-toned (green-brown), round in cross-

section, buds egg-shaped, vertical striations on scales (like the lines on your thumbnail).

Bark: brownish, grooved, shreddy Habitat: fertile woods: FACU- Similar species: musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana): buds rusty brown, buds rectangular in

cross-section, no vertical striations on scales; bark of older trees gray and muscular in appearance.

American elm (Ulmus americana): 45o terminal bud, twig tips often slightly hairy.

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) – Berberidaceae

B. thunbergii

Habit: low, upright shrub Twigs: alternate, brown, grooved; inner bark yellow; spines primarily

single; buds small and brown Fruit: bright red oval berries, borne singly or on small racemes, persistent Habitat: typical in old-field sites, uplands and moist woodlands, wetland

edges: FACU Similar species: European barberry (B. vulgaris): taller than B. thunbergii (up to 10’tall),

spines usually in sets of three, fruits usually borne clustered on drooping racemes.

maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina) - Ericaceae Habit: shrub Twigs: alternate, twig tips often hairy; buds bright red, pointed, 2 bud

scales Fruit: 5-parted brown “nutlets”, persistent Habitat: swampy thickets and sandy soils: FACW mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) - Caprifoliaceae Other names: dockmackie, flowering maple

Habit: shrub Twigs: opposite, slender, velvety; buds long-pointed, greenish and

purplish Fruit: round bluish black drupes, borne on flat top clusters, occasionally

present into early winter. Habitat: forest understory: UPL

6mountain-holly (Nemopanthus mucronatus) - Aquifoliaceae Habit: shrub Twigs: alternate, twig tips purplish, lower portion of branches gray; buds

pointed, somewhat pyramidal shaped and purplish, 2-3 scales Habitat: damp thickets and swamps: OBL

mountain maple (Acer spicatum) – Aceraceae Habit: small tree Twigs: opposite, greenish/reddish, twig tips velvety-hairy;

buds stalked and have 2 scales. Bark: lower portion of stem brownish, fading in to reddish,

not white-striped. Habitat: woodlands: FACU- multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) - Rosaceae Habit: large arcing shrub, often forming impenetrable

tangles Stems: rounded, reddish-green; thorns stout, recurved, often

paired. Fruit: ¼” globular, red hip, hips clustered, persistent Habitat: prefers dry sites: FACU Similar species: Many varieties of Rosa spp. occur in NH. NH Natural Heritage

R. multifloraInventory lists 12 Rosa species as occurring in NH.

V. lentago

nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) - Caprifoliaceae Other names: sheepberry

Habit: shrub or small tree (up to 25’ tall) Twigs: opposite; buds reddish brown; flower buds swollen at base,

completely covered by two leaf scales Habitat: wetlands, moist woodlands: FAC Similar species: northern wild-raisin (V. cassinoides): buds yellowish brown, 2 scales on

flower bud do not meet in center, but rather, expose center of bud northern arrow-wood (Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum) - Caprifoliaceae

V. recognitum

Habit: tall shrub, very branchy, often with long, straight arrow-like stems among older branches.

Twigs: opposite; older branches grayish, present years growth light- brown and 4-angled; buds reddish-brown, pointed

Habitat: wet sites: FACW-

7 northern wild-raisin (Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides) - Caprifoliaceae Other names: withe-rod

Habit: erect shrub (up to 15’ tall) Twigs: opposite, brownish-gray; flower buds only partly covered by the

two scales – center of bud is exposed, buds yellowish-brownish and bumpy.

Habitat: wet areas: FACW Similar species: nannyberry (V. lentago): scales of flower bud meet in center, buds

brownish V. nudum va . cassinoidesr paper birch (Betula papyrifera) – Betulaceae Other names: white birch

Habit: tree (up to 75’ tall) Twigs: alternate; reddish-brown with slightly raised whitish spots,

present year’s growth somewhat hairy; buds two-toned (green and brown).

Bark: dark brown on young trees; older trees chalky or creamy white, peeling

Habitat: typically on well-drained sites: FACU pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) – Rosaceae Other names: fire cherry

Habit: shrub or small tree (up to 30’ tall) Twigs: alternate, reddish-brown, cherry odor subtle; buds small, blunt,

clustered at twig tips and spur branches, reddish brown Bark: shiny, reddish with large horizontal lenticelsHabitat: pioneer species, young woods, thickets: FACU-

poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans var. radicans) - Anacardiaceae Habit: erect shrub, trailing vine, or climbing vine Twigs: alternate; buds tan/yellowish, naked, elongated, often stalked. Fruit: yellow-white berry in compact panicles, occasionally persistent Habitat: moist woods, growing on field edges, forests, wetlands: FAC

Notes: all parts of the plant can cause irritation all any time during the year.

S. Racemosa ssp. pubens

red-berried elder (Sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens) – Caprifoliaceae Habit: upright shrub Twigs: opposite, stout with warty lenticels, pith brownish; buds large,

round, green and purple, often twin terminal buds. Habitat: moist, rich sites, roadsides and ditches: FACU Similar species: common elderberry (S. canadensis): small buds; white pith.

8red maple (Acer rubrum) - Aceraceae Other names: Swamp maple, soft maple Habit: tree (40-60’) Twigs: red, slender; buds red, blunt, single or clustered Fruits: samaras, wings slightly divergent (1/2 to 1” long), mature in spring Bark: on young trees, smooth, silver gray; long narrow, scaly dark plates on

older trees, often with “target” pattern Habitat: found in moist situations, but also on dry soils: FAC red pine (Pinus resinosa) - Pinaceae Other names: Norway pine Habit: tree (up to 80 feet) Leaves: needles in bundles of two; 3-8” long, slender, soft and flexible Twigs: bud scales brown with white-fringed margins Cones: round-conical, 1 ½”-2 ½”, right angle to branches, scales thornless Bark: reddish-brown, flaky, shallow fissures Habitat: dry uplands: FACU Similar species:

pitch pine (P. rigida): needles in bundles of three; needles clusters often growing along trunk, cones have scales with short, rigid thorn; bark plate-like with deep, irregular fissures.

Scotch pine (P. sylvestris): needles in bundles of two, bent stiff and twisted; cones with yellow-brown scales thickened at tip, point backwards

along branches; bark along upper trunk bright orange-red and flaky. red spruce (Picea rubens) – Pinaceae Habit: tree (up to 70’) Leaves: needles dark or yellow-green(not powdery), ½ - 5/8”, square in cross-section Twigs: branches spread horizontally, twigs and buds hairy (w/ hand lens) Fruit: cones ovoid-oblong, 1¼ and 15/8’; cones fall off once ripe; scales rigid, edges smooth Habitat: well-drained sites: FACU Similar species: black spruce (P. mariana): branches drooping; needles blue-green and

powdery, twigs with hairs (w/ hand lens); cones persistent for years; boggy or high elevation sites

white spruce (P. glauca): needles blue-green; twigs without hairs; branches mostly horizontal, moist upland sites

serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) Other names: juneberry, shadbush, shadblow

Habitat: usually small shrub, sometimes small tree (up to 40’ tall) Twigs: alternate, slender; buds pinkish, long, tapering; bud scales

overlapping and twisted at the tip Bark: smooth, gray or brown, often with longitudinal stripes. Habitat: uplands to wetlands depending on species Notes: NH Natural Heritage Inventory lists 6 species in NH. Leaves are

important for identifying to species level.

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C. amomum

silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) – Cornaceae Habit: upright shrub

Twigs: opposite, dull purple/reddish with silky hairs on new growth, older branches blotchy and less red, brown/tan pith.

Fruit: in flat-topped clusters Habitat: usually wet sites: FACW Similar species: red-osier dogwood (C. sericea): twigs very red all the way to ground,

white pith. gray dogwood (C. racemosa): twigs light gray; pith of present year’s

growth white, pith of older branchlets light brown speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa) - Betulaceae Habit: shrub or small tree (up to 18’ tall), usually growing

in clumps Twigs: alternate, olive-brown; pith greenish, triangular;

buds large, reddish-brown, football shaped, stalked, coated in grayish/tawny down. Pseudoterminal bud.

Fruit: small, persistent drooping cones Bark: smooth, dark brown or gray black; prominent,

horizontal white lenticels. Habitat: wetlands, wet meadows, abandoned gravel pits: FACW+ Similar species: smooth alder (A. serrulata): cones do not drupe, bark is relatively

unspeckled sugar maple (Acer saccharum) - Aceraceae Other names: (rock maple, hard maple) Habit: large tree (60 to 90’), with broad crown Twigs: reddish-brown, slender, smooth, glossy; buds reddish-brown,

sharp pointed, slender, occur singly Fruit: small, horse-shoe shaped samaras; ripen in fall. Bark: extremely variable, gray to black, smooth on young trees, becoming

thick, deeply furrowed, often with long, irregular, scaly plates

sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) – Clethraceae Other names: white alder

Habit: erect shrub Twigs: alternate, hairy; outer bark red-brown, separating into loose strips;

large end buds with loose or shedding hairy outer scales Habitat: swamps and sandy soils: FAC+

10Sweet gale (Myrica gale) – Myricaceae Habit: erect shrub Twigs: alternate, brownish, covered in aromatic resin-dots (use hand lens);

buds whitish and ovalHabitat: swamps, pond edges: OBL

staghorn-sumac (Rhus typhina) - Anacardiaceae

R. typhina

Habit: shrub or small tree (up to 25’ tall) Twigs: alternate, round, stout, very hairy, large pith; buds wooly; leaf

scars U-shaped, enclosing buds. Fruit: red drupes in dense, hairy heads, persistent.

Bark: dark, numerous raised cross streaks Habitat: upland, early successional, grows in clumps or patches in old

pastures, open areas: UPL Similar species:

smooth sumac (R. glabra): twigs are not hairy; fruits heads less dense poison-sumac (Toxicodendron vernix): growing in wetlands, typically

with red maple, high-bush blueberry; twigs not hairy; leaf scars crescent shaped, not enclosing buds; fruits white berries in loose clusters, often present in early winter.

striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) – Aceraceae Other names: moosewood, moose maple Habit: tall shrub or slender tree (up to 40’ tall)

Twigs: opposite, green, hairless; buds bright red, smooth, stalked, two bud scales

Bark: green with whitish stripesHabitat: cool, moist shaded sites: FACU

Similar species: Mountain-maple (A. spicatum): twig tips and buds velvety, bark and lower

portion of branches light brown, not white-striped

white ash (Fraxinus Americana) – Oleaceae

White ash green ash

Other names: American ash Habit: tree (50-70 feet)

Twigs: opposite, stout; terminal bud pyramidal shaped, brownish, rather blunt and wider or as wide as it is high, first set of lateral buds touch lateral bud; lateral buds usually set in a deep U or V-shaped notch in the upper edge of leaf scars.

Fruit: narrow samara, pointed at both ends; borne in drooping panicles Bark: gray; diamond-shaped pattern of shallow ridges and furrows

Habitat: occurs on fertile, moist (not wet) soils: FACU Similar species:

green ash (F. pennsylvanica): terminal buds generally higher than they are wide; lateral buds set in shallow notch or on top of leaf scar; grows in moist or wet soils: FACW

black ash (F. nigra): see black ash

11willow (Salix spp.) – Salicaceae Habit: shrub or tree

Twigs: alternate, long and slender; inner bark yellow; terminal bud absent; lateral buds pressed tightly against stem, covered by single cap-like bud scale, buds covered in white hairswhen bud scale is removed

Habitat: wet sites Notes: NH Natural Heritage Inventory currently lists 26 species and

hybrids of willow in NH

winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) – Aquifoliaceae Other names: winterberry, black alder Habit: shrub, often growing in dense clusters

Twigs: alternate, light gray-silvery, dotted with small lenticels; buds are small and round, small black stipules on edges of leave scars.

Fruit: bright red drupe, persistent. Habitat: wet sites: FACW+

witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) - Hamamelidaceae Habit: shrub or small, irregular tree (up to 15’ tall); often

with several trunks in a group Twigs: alternate; buds stalked, naked and hairy,

shaped like a colt’s hoofBark: smooth, brownish with lighter blotches

Fruit: urn-shaped woody capsule, persistent yellow flower petals, blooms in autumn.

Habitat: woodlands: FAC-

yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) – Betulaceae Habit: tree (up to 75’ tall) Twigs: alternate, slender, yellowish to brown, twig tips hairy

on young trees, subtle wintergreen scent, buds two-toned (green and brown), obviously hairy on scale edges.

Bark: shiny, yellowish, often peeling slightly on young trees Habitat: moist woodlands: FAC

Similar species: black birch (B. Lenta): strong wintergreen scent, twigs hairless

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Wetland Indicator Status: US Fish and Wildlife Service. 1988. National list of vascular plant species that occur in wetlands. US

Fish & Wildlife Service Biological Report 88 24pp.

OBL Obligate Wetland Occurs almost always (99%) under natural conditions in wetlands FACW Facultative Wetland Usually occurs in wetlands (67%-99%), but sometimes

occasionally found in non-wetlands FAC Facultative Equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands (34%-66%)

FACU Facultative Upland Usually occurs in non-wetlands (67-99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (1%-33%)

UPL Upland Obligate Occurs almost always (995) under natural conditions in non-wetlands

UNH Cooperative Extension programs and policies are consistent with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding age, color, handicap, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, County Governments, NH Division of Forests and Lands, Department of Resources and Economic Development, NH Fish and Game Department, US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services cooperating.